Payame Noor University Crop Biotechnology 2252-0783 6 3 2017 06 21 Effects of silver nanoparticles elicitor and drought stress on the expression of beta -carotene hydroxylase (bch) gene on the yield of saffron carotenoid (Crocus sativus L.) Effects of silver nanoparticles elicitor and drought stress on the expression of beta -carotene hydroxylase (bch) gene on the yield of saffron carotenoid (Crocus sativus L.) 1 13 3862 FA Batool Sabertanha M.Sc., Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Iran. Baratali Fakheri Associate Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Iran. Nafise Mahdinezhad Assistant Professors, Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran Zohre Alizade Assistant Professors, Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran Journal Article 2017 02 05 This study aimed to investigate the effect of drought stress and silver nanoparticles on beta-carotene hydroxylase (bch) gene expression and carotenoid production in saffron. The experiment was implemented in two levels including normal irrigation and full drought stress on nine ecotypes of saffron in three levels: control (distilled water), 55 and 110 ppm of silver nanoparticles levels. This study was conducted in split plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with two replications at research field of Birjand University and biotechnology institute of Zabol University.In order to examine gene expression pattern, after taking leaf samples from all treatments, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and determination of temperature gradient, Real time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR) was used. Then, Data were analyzed using EX and SAS 9.2 software. The main effects of treatments with nine ecotypes of saffron, silver nanoparticle and drought stress and their interaction effects for bch gene expression and amount of carotenoid were significant at 1% probability level. The maximum bch gene expression and the amount of carotenoid was observed in 55 ppm of silver nanoparticles under drought stress in Ghaen ecotype (1478.62 & 21.37 µg.g-1, respectively). Therefore, drought stress and silver Nanoparticles up to 55ppm increased bch gene expression and carotenoid production. This study aimed to investigate the effect of drought stress and silver nanoparticles on beta-carotene hydroxylase (bch) gene expression and carotenoid production in saffron. The experiment was implemented in two levels including normal irrigation and full drought stress on nine ecotypes of saffron in three levels: control (distilled water), 55 and 110 ppm of silver nanoparticles levels. This study was conducted in split plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with two replications at research field of Birjand University and biotechnology institute of Zabol University.In order to examine gene expression pattern, after taking leaf samples from all treatments, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and determination of temperature gradient, Real time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR) was used. Then, Data were analyzed using EX and SAS 9.2 software. The main effects of treatments with nine ecotypes of saffron, silver nanoparticle and drought stress and their interaction effects for bch gene expression and amount of carotenoid were significant at 1% probability level. The maximum bch gene expression and the amount of carotenoid was observed in 55 ppm of silver nanoparticles under drought stress in Ghaen ecotype (1478.62 & 21.37 µg.g-1, respectively). Therefore, drought stress and silver Nanoparticles up to 55ppm increased bch gene expression and carotenoid production. https://cropbiotech.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_3862_541076d16d50ebe268d8383b331025f3.pdf